Kanata Academy is the ideal private school in west Ottawa and Kanata for parents to enrol their children, primarily due to the small class sizes and convenient, regular access to fully-certified teachers. With the low tuition rate relative to other private schools in Ottawa, especially considering the strength of it’s faculty and state-of-the art, brand-new facility, Kanata Academy is an excellent choice to enrol your child, whether it be preschool, junior or senior kindergarten, elementary, middle or high school.

Our Take: Kanata Academy

Founded in 1996, Kanata Academy has grown to offer all grades, from preschool through Grade 12. The program is based in the Ontario provincial curriculum, though sees that as the baseline rather than an apex of student achievement. Families that enroll are drawn by the small class sizes, and an approach to academics that is robust yet student-centered. They are also drawn by the continuity of the offering, knowing that students can remain in their peer group, and the greater school community, through the elementary and secondary years. Students who enroll enter a community of learners who share academic abilities, curiosities, and values. Parental involvement in the life of the school is both welcome and encouraged.

Central to your child's school experience is the underlying curriculum taught in the classroom. "Curriculum" refers to both what is taught and how it's taught. When considering the different curricula outlined in the next few pages, keep in mind that few schools fall neatly into one category or another. Most schools' curricula comprise a blend of best practices drawn from multiple curriculum types. Having said that, most schools do have a general overall curriculum type. These are identified for each school on OurKids.net.

Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a uni?ed curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.

What School says: Kanata Academy follows the Ontario curriculum and enhances the expectations for students when needed. We pride ourselves on teaching the foundations in our elementary school- giving students the skills and knowledge they need each year to be successful.

School has a approach Mostly value-neutral (as opposed to Fairly value-based approach).

[Show: About Mostly value-neutral?]

By and large, students are taught about sex free of any particular moral or ethical standpoint. The school doesn't impose any particular values or value systems (such as social, political, or ideological values) on students when teaching sex and related issues.

Preschools and kindergartens tend to have a particular curriculum or curricular approach. This refers to what is taught and how it's taught. Most preschools have a curriculum that comprises a blend of best practices drawn from multiple curriculum types. A preschool's curriculum may or may not, though, reflect its higher-level curriculum (if it's part of a school with elementary or secondary programs)

Academic-based preschools and Kindergartens are the most structured of the different types, and have a strong emphasis on math and reading readiness skills. These programs aim to expose children to what early-elementary school is like. While time is still allotted to free play, much of the day is built around explicit lessons guided by the teacher. Classrooms often resemble play-based ones (with different stations set up around the room), but at an Academic program the teacher leads students through the stations directly, and ties these activities to a whole-class lesson or theme.

What School says: Preschool Program- The preschool program at Kanata Academy is an academic program with a healthy amount of play and opportunity to explore their environment. Each day children participate in Literacy, Numeracy, French, Art, Science and Music activities. Field trips and guests are part of our program to enhance the learning experience. Children in our preschool program have a minimum of 2 hours of outdoor play and have Physical Education every day in our gymnasium.
Our Kindergarten program is an academic program providing a structured learning environment through teacher directed lessons, centres and activities.

This refers to the rate at which students move through the curriculum (e.g., topics, textbook material, skills, etc.). Curriculum pace is often defined in comparison to provincial standards.

Curriculum Pace approach at School: Standard-enriched

School has a Standard-enriched approach to Curriculum Pace (as opposed to Accelerated, Student-paced approach).

[Show: About Standard-enriched?]

Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.

What School says: Kanata Academy follows the Ontario Curriculum but enriches it for students when necessary. Teachers have the ability and time to explore concepts and topics in depth with students. Field trips, guests, independent/group projects are directly related to the curriculum and enhance the learning experience.

Flexible pacing style

Flexible pacing style

offered

Subject-streaming (tracking)

Multi-age classrooms as standard

Ability-grouping (in-class) as common

Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace)

Regular guided independent study opportunities

Differentiated assessment

What School says about flexible pacing: At Kanata Academy, our cyber- learning is for our Grade 9-12 students allowing them the flexibility to learn under the guidance of their teacher.

Through the collective mindset of teachers, administrators, students, and parents, each school develops and maintains its own academic culture. This generally relates to the norms and expectations created around academic performance. Many parents look to private schools because they want a specific type of culture. Some want a rigorous environment that will elevate their child to new heights. Others want a nurturing environment that will help their child develop a passion for learning.

Academic Culture approach at School: Supportive

School has a Supportive approach to Academic Culture (as opposed to Rigorous approach).

[Show: About Supportive?]

A school with a “supportive” academic culture focuses more on process than short-term outcomes: academic performance is a welcomed side-benefit, but not the driving focus. This does not mean the school lacks standards, or has low expectations for its students: a school can have a supportive academic culture and still light the fire of ambition in its students. It does mean, however, the school provides a less intensive culture than schools with a “rigorous” academic classification, and is focused more simply on instilling a love of learning and life-long curiosity.

Academic Culture at schools on OurKids.net

&nbsp Supportive - 53% &nbsp Rigorous - 47%

What School says: Kanata Academy follows the curriculum set out by the Ontario Ministry of Education. Because of our small class sizes, we are also often able to enhance the curriculum to include student interests, which makes the classroom experiences more exciting and promotes more interaction. This helps to motivate students by peaking their interest in a particular area and encourages further learning. Teachers emphasize the importance of organizational skills and teach students methods to help them achieve their educational goals.

Schools have specific goals regarding how they want their educate and develop their students. This is part of a school's overall philosophy or vision, which is contained in its mission statement. While they tend have several developmental aims, schools tend to priortize certain aims, such as intellectual, social, spiritual, emotional, or physical development.

Primary Developmental Priority: Balanced

"Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation."

Secondary Developmental Priority: Intellectual

The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."

What School says: Our teachers and support staff are dedicated to making our students feel safe, important and valued. We teach our students to be curious, confident and independent learners by providing a stimulating atmosphere that supports risk-taking and encourages students to express their ideas.

Schools offer a wide range of approaches and services to support students with special needs. This may include individualized learning, one-on-one support, small classes, resource rooms, and learning aids. These supports may be provided in a number of different environments such as a dedicated special needs school or class, an integrated class, a withdrawal class, or a regular class with resource support or in-class adaptations.

School offers Indirect Support

Students remain in a regular classroom for the whole day; the teacher receives special training in accommodating special needs and/or learning disabled students.

Academic Support:

Subject Ttype

offered

Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation

Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties

Mild but clinically diagnosed ADHD:

Subject Ttype

offered

Accommodations

Modifications

Extra support

Summary: Students with learning struggles or diagnosed learning disabilities benefit form our small class sizes and differentiated instruction. Kanata Academy will ensure that all students with an IEP ( Individual Education Plan) get the accommodations and/or modifications they need to meet curriculum expectations and achieve their goals.

This is a learning disability that can limit a child's ability to read and learn. It can have a variety of traits. A few of the main ones are impaired phonological awareness and decoding, problems with orthographic coding, and auditory short-term memory impairment.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

This is a sound differentiation disorder involving problems with reading, comprehension, and language.

Dyscalculia

This is a kind of specific learning disability in math. Kids with this math disorder have problems with calculation. They may also have problems with math-related concepts such as time and money.

Dysgraphia

This is a kind of specific learning disability in writing. It involves problems with handwriting, spelling, and organizing ideas.

Language Processing Disorder

This is characterized by having extreme difficulty understanding what is heard and expressing what one wants to say. These disorders affect the area of the brain that controls language processing.

Nonverbal Learning Disorders (NLD)

These involve difficulties interpreting non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. They're usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial, and social skills.

Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit

A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD. It can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.

Refers to a range of conditions that involve challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. They also involve unique strengths and differences. For instance, there are persons with both low- and high-functioning autism (some claim the latter is identical to Asperger's syndrome).

Asperger's Syndrome

On the autism spectrum, Asperger's is considered quite mild in terms of symptoms. While traits can vary widely, many kids with Asperger's struggle with social skills. They also sometimes fixate on certain subjects and engage in repetitive behaviour.

Down syndrome

his is associated with impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics.

Intellectual disability

This is a condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (e.g., reasoning, learning, and problem solving). Intellectual disabilities are also known as general learning disabilities (and used to be referred to as a kind of mental retardation).

roubled teens tend to have problems that are intense, persistent, and can lead to quite unpredictable behaviour. This can lead to behavioural and emotional issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behaviour, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Clinical Depression

This is a mental health disorder also called "major depression." It involves persistent feelings of sadness, loss, and anger. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms are usually severe enough to cause noticeable problems in relationships with others or in daily activities, such as school, work, or one's social life.

Clinical anxiety

This is a mood disorder involving intense, relentless feelings of distress and fear. They can also have excessive and persistent worry about everyday situations, and repeated episodes of intense anxiety or terror.

Suicidal thoughts

This involves persistent thoughts about ending one's life.

Drug and alcohol abuse

This involves the excessive use of drug and/or alcohol, which interferes with daily functioning.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

This is a disruptive behavioural disorder which normally involves angry outbursts, often directed at people of authority. This behaviour must last continuously for six months or more and significantly interfere with daily functioning.

This is a condition of the central nervous system. It affects the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Symptoms can include fatigue, loss of motor control, memory loss, depression, and cognitive difficulties.

Cerebral palsy

his refers to a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. CP is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture.

Muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disorder which weakens the body's muscles. Causes, symptoms, age of onset, and prognosis vary between individuals.

Spina Bifida

This is a condition present at birth due to the incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord. It can lead to a number of physical challenges, including paralysis or weakness in the legs, bowel and bladder incontinence, hydrocephalus (too much fluid in the brain), and deformities of the spine.

Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)

This is a Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Also known as "sensory integration disorder," it affects fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. It may also affect speech.

Blindness

Visual impairment is a decreased ability or inability to see that can't be fixed in usual ways, such as with glasses. Some people are completely blind, while others have what's called "legal blindness."

Deafness

Hearing impairment, also known as "hearing loss," is a partial or total inability to hear. The degree of hearing impairment varies between people. It can range from complete hearing loss (or deafness) to partial hearing loss (meaning the ears can pick up some sounds).

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic condition, which affects the body's respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. It affects young children and adults.

Schools support students with gifted or advanced learning abilities in a several ways. Whether they offer a full-time gifted program or part-time support, they normally provide some form of accelerated learning (delivering content at a faster pace) or enrichment (covering content more broadly or deeply). Many schools also offer a wide range of in-class adaptations to support advanced learners, such as guided independent studies, project-based learning, and career exploration.

Dedicated gifted programs:

Program

offered

Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school)

Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class)

Curriculum delivery: Enrichment (The main focus is on enrichment. This means that while students may work at a marginally quicker pace than public school peers, the primary aim is to study subject in broader and deeper ways.)

While academics remain the priority for most private schools, many also place a strong focus on a well-rounded education and encourage participation in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, arts, or clubs. Involvement in extracurriculars helps stimulate students in their studies, makes them more motivated to learn, and can make school more enjoyable and fulfilling. Extracurricular activities can also provide students with a much-needed break from the stresses of academics, while helping them to develop skills and allowing them to take part in valuable social situations.

This can depend on a number of factors, including the type of school, living arrangements, what’s included in tuition, school location, resources, and facilities. Many private schools in Canada have tuition that ranges between $6,000 and $12,000 a year. While some schools, such as schools which provide room and board, can be more expensive, many of these schools provide ways to defray the costs of tuition. For instance, they may offer merit-based scholarships or needs-based financial aid (often referred to as “bursaries” or “subsidies”).

What School says about their tuition: This information is not currently available.

Need-based financial aid

This information is not currently available.

Merit based Scholarships

Private schools come in all shapes and sizes. Some larger schools have enrollment numbers in the thousands, while some smaller schools have only a few dozen students. Boarding schools tend to be on the larger side, while alternative schools, such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf, are normally smaller. Besides the overall size of school, there are other important facts you’ll want to know about a school’s enrollment. For instance, here you can learn about a school’s enrollment for separate streams (if they have them), such as day and boarding, its average class size, and its average enrollment per grade.

Private schools in Canada have admissions policies. All schools have some required application materials, though these vary between schools. These may include letters of application, application fees, essays, and exams (such as the SSAT). Many schools also require interviews with prospective students, either with their parents, on their own, or both. Schools also have different standards and priorities when evaluating student applications, different acceptance rates (which may vary between grade levels), and target different kinds of students. To improve your child’s chances of acceptance, you should find out everything you can about a school’s admissions policies and how they assess applicants.

Application

Where graduates of a school do their post-secondary studies can be an important factor in choosing a private school. Do you want your child to go to a Canadian university, an Ivy league school in the US, or some other institute? Regardless of your inclinations, take a look at a school’s university placement record, and the services they offer to support university applications and decisions.

Services

Offered

Career planning

Internships

Mentorship Program

University counseling

Key Numbers

Average graduating class size

N/A

*Canadian "Big 6" placements

N/A

**Ivy+ placements

N/A

*Number of students in 2015 who attended one of McGill, U of T, UBC, Queen's University, University of Alberta, or Dalhousie University.

**Number of students since 2005 that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK)